Tree, largest wisteria Vine in South Carolina destroy home

Couple focused on each other to get out alive

A husband and wife say a rude awakening Sunday morning could have killed them. Early Saturday, a huge oak tree and the largest wisteria vine in the state fell on top of their home while they slept.

Jim and Susan Wilson say they next thing they remember was the rain and debris falling on top of them. Now the home on East Main Street in Pendleton is destroyed and the family is trying to salvage belongings.

"I’ve lost everything I own and everything I have," Susan Wilson said.

When the tree fell, it split the house in half. So, Jim and Susan couldn't get to each other. After several minutes of crawling in the dark and through the rubble, Susan Wilson finally found her husband.

"I’m just thankful to be here today. We shouldn’t take for granted any day of our lives because you don’t know what’s going to happen in the middle of the night when you can’t get to the person that you love it's a really bad feeling," Susan said.

"My old lady is fine. That’s all I was worried about," Jim Wilson said.

Emergency service workers helped rescue the couple through a window.

The couple rented the home. The owners of the property say the house is a total loss.

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